When Terrence Ingram ’09 decided to major in music at BSC, he didn’t know exactly where that would take him. He just knew music was his passion, and he was determined to fill his education with a subject he enjoyed.

Music is now central to what Ingram does as the founder and CEO of LegacyWorks, a program that uses life coaching, engaging curriculum, and music production to support Birmingham’s urban youth and help them succeed.

“When people think of excellence, they tend to point outside of urban areas. We want the urban youth in our city to reverse that,” Ingram says. “I believe that in 20 to 40 years, we can see unprecedented growth and economic independence in Birmingham’s urban communities.”

After graduating from BSC, Ingram became a Teach For America corps member and took a position in Nashville, teaching seventh and eighth grade inner city students. There, he also found his passion for education, another essential component of LegacyWorks.

“I saw students’ gifts and talents but also a lack of direction,” he says. “It was in my blood to teach.”

Ingram returned to Birmingham and later began working for Scantron Corporation, which led him to Martha Gaskins Elementary School in the Roebuck neighborhood in 2018. While he was there to explain new end-of-year tests, an instructional coach suggested he might be there for a deeper purpose.

From there, Ingram and his team of friends developed a plan to invest in the community and Birmingham’s youth. They launched a pilot program at Martha Gaskins last August and began to build relationships with six students. Most members of the team, including Ingram, work full-time day jobs yet spend their evenings focused on LegacyWorks and its growth.

“It’s a people business, fueled by passion,” Ingram says. “I’m always energized when working to accomplish our objectives.”

LegacyWorks soon expanded from in-school to after-school and weekend programs, held at Homewood Church of Christ. Students take classes on a variety of skills and trades, including speech, agriculture, and auto mechanics. The program also includes time for youth, ages 10 to 16, to be with mentors who they can “do life with.”

Inspiring them to create, LegacyWorks includes a production course that allows every student to play a role in making and recording music and video. Mentorship and educational materials collide with expression and creating digital content, which can be found on the organization’s YouTube channel.

Only in its second year, LegacyWorks has already expanded, with growing interest from parents and mentors like Ingram himself who are helping mold Birmingham’s community.

“I feel strongly that my purpose is tied to this city. Something in the soil makes me feel at home when I’m here,” he says.

Ingram was this year’s Birmingham-Southern Honors Day speaker, even though our normal ceremony could not take place due to COVID-19. However, he did come to campus to film his talk on the meaning of honor. Watch it here.

This story was published in the Fall/Winter 2019 issue of ’Southern, BSC’s alumni magazine.

If you have ideas for our next issue of ’Southern, please email [email protected]. We always welcome stories about outstanding people from the BSC community.